10/28/2015

Federal authorities have launched an investigation concerning Republican State Senate candidate Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant, after a complaint alleged the Henrico doctor used her private patient information to solicit contributions, volunteers and votes.

The investigation is being led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. The Department’s regional bureau in Philadelphia confirmed the ongoing investigation.

At the center of the inquiry are letters and emails from Dunnavant to her patients, announcing her intention to run for Virginia’s 12th District Senate seat. The letters reassured patients the quality of their care would not be affected if voters elected Dunnavant to represent the West End of Henrico and western Hanover County.

However, concerns were raised when the letters, paid for by Friends of Siobhan Dunnavant, included several ways for her OB/GYN patients to become involved in the doctor’s campaign.

A violation of HIPAA, the federal act protecting security of patient records, may have occurred if the addresses were reviewed by anyone outside of Dr. Dunnavant’s medical practice.

“I would LOVE for you to be involved,” Dunnavant wrote. “You can connect and get information on my website. There you can sign up to get information, a bumper sticker or yard sign and volunteer.”

“It would also be wonderful if you liked the campaign Facebook page and asked all your friends to like it too,” she added.

The separate emails to patients outlined Dunnavant’s campaign platform, plans to fight against Obamacare, and specifically identified the correspondence as a campaign email.

“My friends, I am not sending you this email to ask for money (although we all know it would help),” Dunnavant wrote before the June primary election. “I am sending you this email to tell you who I am. I’m not a politician – I’m a doctor. My experience is not in writing campaign emails, my experience is in problem solving… On June 9th, I ask for your vote.”

The emails also indicate that they are “paid for by Friends of Siobhan Dunnavant.”

Federal investigators are now reviewing whether Dunnavant compromised private patient information, using a confidential address list to benefit her campaign.

In an interview Wednesday, a patient who wished to remain anonymous said she was dismayed to read the content of the letter from the doctor.

"I've had complete trust in her for 10 years," the patient said. "But that adds to my concern and disillusion about receiving a letter like this from her."

In an email Tuesday, Carman said the campaign is comfortable with its actions taken, and ensured that communications were appropriate with all applicable guidelines.

“Dr. Dunnavant discussed the matter with both her practice and legal counsel and no violation of patient privacy took place,” Carman said.

“Also, I should note that neither Dr. Dunnavant nor our campaign has received any such notice from the Department of Health & Human Services to date.”

Conservative blogger Thomas White, editor of varight.com, first received a copy of one of Dunnavant’s letters in May. White was the first to report on the issues raised by the letters, and then filed a complaint with the federal government.

After nearly four months, an investigator with the Department of Health and Human Services responded to White’s complaint, indicating the doctor’s actions would be examined.

You allege that Dr. Dunnavant impermissibly used the protected health information of her patients,” wrote Barbara J. Holland, the regional manager of the Department.

“We have carefully reviewed your allegation and are initiating an investigation to determine if there has been a failure to comply with the requirements of the applicable regulation.”

White said in an interview Wednesday that although he is a lifetime Republican, he could not turn a blind eye to conduct he believed was wrong.

"Our politicians need to be held accountable for their actions, and that's either as a legislator or lawmaker, or during the campaign," White said.

“And I believe Siobhan Dunnavant did not measure up to these standards by using her patient database for political purposes.”

10/02/2015

With the crucial battle for the Virginia Senate just one month away, the Greater Richmond Chamber announced Thursday two candidate forums from Henrico to Chesterfield would be free and open to the public.

Members of the audience are allowed to submit candidate questions at each event. The Chamber will also include free forums for the top level of Chesterfield and Hanover County government, as well as the Chesterfield School Board.

09/10/2015

While Virginia Republicans hold a commanding lead in the House of Delegates, the margin is just two seats in the State Senate. If Democrats can pick up just one seat to force a 20-20 tie in the Senate, the party would effectively have control with Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam casting a tie-breaking vote.

Both parties will be watching several key Senate races which could turn the tide on Nov. 3.

District 10

The key race will be in Central Virginia as four candidates are vying to fill the seat vacated by Sen. John Watkins who is retiring after 27 years in the district. While Republicans have controlled the seat for nearly three decades, Democrat Dan Geckerholds a fundraising lead with more than $500,000 in contributions -- more than the other three candidates combined. Republican Glen Sturtevant will try and take the seat for the GOP, but like Gecker, Indpendent Marleen Durfee and Liberitarian Carl Loser, he has never served in statewide office.

District 6

Perhaps just as intriguing is the race in Accomack for the 6th District between Democrat incumbent Lynwood Lewis and Republican challenger Richard Ottinger. While Lewis won the seat in 2014, it was an 11 vote victory in a special election. Still, Lewis has outraised Ottinger $270,000 to $151,000 and the district leans left.

District 1

John Miller (D- Newport News) should have little to fear is defending his seat against first-time challenger Mark Matney. Matney was a late fill-in after John Bloommissed filing a candidacy form. Still, Miller has never enjoyed a large margin of victory in his two previous elections for the seat.

District 21

The best chance for a Republican upset may be in Roanoke where Independent Donald Caldwell may help unseat incumbent Democrat Sen. John Edwards. Caldwell is a long-time Democrat and could steal enough votes to help Republican Nancy Dye take the seat back for the GOP. After 20 years in the seat, Edwards will remain hard to beat.

District 29

Another GOP opportunity lies in the open seat out of Northern Virginia where Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish holds a lead over Democrat Jeremy McPike. While the seat was most recently held by Democrat Charles Colgan for nearly 40 years, Parrish could help Republicans take the district for the first time since 1976.

District 17

Republican Bryce Reeves flipped this seat for the GOP by taking out Edd Hock in 2011, but he did it by only 226 votes and Democrats hope Ned Gallaway will win the seat out of Albemarle back for the party.

District 20

The contest between Republican Bill Stanley and Democrat Kim Adkins is expected to be tight, as well. Stanley holds a substantial fundraising lead and is the incumbent, but won in 2011 by around 1.26 percent.